What do you make of the ongoing Denver Hume contract situation?

Gary Engel says…

The thing with academy products is the dream of one day going from zero to hero in front of your own fans. But Denver Hume’s legacy could see him go from the status of hero back to zero very quickly.

To me, if a player is going to renew their contract, they are going to be making the right noises like McGeady and O’Nien did. As fans, we don’t necessarily expect players to just take the first offer the club makes, but if he really wanted to be here I’d have expected a breakthrough by now. By stark contrast, look at the comments Dennis Cirkin made when he joined us this week. There is a player who wants to pull on the Red and White of Sunderland!

A bit like the situation with Charlie Wyke, it makes me wonder how realistic Hume is being? He has had a handful of good performances in the last couple of seasons. But that is partly due to missing two-thirds of last season.

Indeed, as soon as Hume was back last year, he was on the injury table again. We have struggled to fill the void in his absence and personally until he could prove his fitness I would be looking at him mainly as back-up anyway. Question is, was that the sticking point, or even a pay-as-you-play clause part of the negotiations?

First and foremost, we need reliability as well as players who want to be here. We don’t know what has gone on but Hume is in similar position to other young players in our squad who are looking to break into the first team; work hard, stay fit, take their opportunities and reassess where everyone is next summer...

We need to avoid these situations in future regarding contracts, I hope lessons have been learnt.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

---

Malc Dugdale says...

My take on the Hume situation is quite simple - he has made his bed and now he may well have to lie in it.

His injury situation in my view should have encouraged him to sign on at least for a year, however, he chose not to do so despite even now his recovery being assisted by the AOL staff, equipment and resources.

He is now in a position where the club (which should always be bigger than any player, not that SAFC previously have seemed to know that) is in a position of real strength, through astute recruitment with impeccable timing, for once.

He may have been given the impression all we can attract is the likes of McFadzean – but with this DOF and recruitment setup, he is likely wrong. He may not have been erroneous in the past, but clearly, he is now.

Denver Hume has put himself in a position where he may now have to accept less guaranteed first-team minutes, and even a lesser contract value, due to wanting to see what was out there. He hasn’t totally “sh*t on his own doorstep”, but he has certainly tread some in, and it smells pretty poor.

I say let him either sign a contract that now suits the club more and let him fight for his place against a very capable new left-back, or let him go.

He is good, but he isn’t the finished article (though Cirkin may not be either at least he has committed to the club). He is injury-prone for a younger lad, and it seems he has maybe been influenced by other players that he can call the tune, when he should have been advised differently and showed more loyalty than has been made evident.

I’d be surprised if he isn’t at Wigan before the start of September, them seeking to increase the odds of someone landing balls on Wyke’s napper. Sadly he hit the corner flag almost as often at times.

Good luck if he does move, as he has been with the club for many years and Id like him to succeed, but our club is moving on. My message’: get on board son, or get out the way, as we aren’t waiting for anyone who feels the need to “doll off”.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Getty Images

---

Jack Gingell says...

It’s a strange one with Denver Hume.

On the one hand, the lad has shown some potential, with good ability on the ball, occasionally a decent cross and pace.

On the other, he is defensively fairly weak, inconsistent going forward, and susceptible to injuries.

The club seemingly have made him a very reasonable offer with his injury record and current status as actually injured, yet he or his representatives feel it is not good enough.

The signing of Dennis Cerkin likely cements him as the first choice option, so if Hume is willing to re-sign with us, it will be in a backup capacity.

I feel that Denver Hume is being badly advised. No one appears willing to bite due to his apparent injury issues, yet offers from the club are being rejected.

The lad definitely has something but if he’s not careful, he’ll end up on the scrap heap when he could be competing in the current young and fresh squad, possibly even playing Championship football next season.

Ideally, I’d like him to re-sign and compete for the left-back spot with Cirkin, but at present all he is doing is backing himself into a corner that might ultimately be to the detriment of his career.

Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

---

Michael Dunne says...

I personally find this whole situation quite strange. In the early summer, I fully expected Denver Hume to be the first man signed up to a new contract. Hume has steadily improved at the club since he broke into the first team but has not been a stand out player at any stage. It does make me question who is advising him and whether this advice is correct. In my opinion, Hume still has a lot to prove at Sunderland. His injuries have led to him struggling to complete a full season and this should be at the forefront of his mind.

With the signing of Dennis Cirkin the other day, Sunderland are not in a desperate position. Between Cirkin and Dan Neil, Lee Johnson has covered himself in this position. The fact that Hume is currently injured means that the options available to him may become limited as teams would be desperate to complete their business as early as possible. For once, Sunderland have conducted their business in an uncharacteristically professional fashion. Denver Hume, it appears, finds himself a little in limbo. He would do well to find himself a better club than Sunderland.

It would be wise of Denver to sign up.

Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

---